John L. Porter Naval Architectural Notebook

John L. Porter (1813-1893) constructed naval ships in Portsmouth, Virginia, prior to the Civil War. After the secession of the Confederate States, he served at the Gosport (Portmouth, Virginia) Naval Yard for the Confederate Navy. Mr. Porter recorded in this notebook (starting on page 164) the details of the conversion of the USS Merrimac to the CSS Virginia (1861-1862). Further on in the notebook (pg 233) he relates the sad story of his house being confiscated after the Civil War and sold for $700.00. To find out more information, ask for John Luke Porter Papers (#850).